By The Escape desk · Last verified 11 October 2026
Singaporeans can get a Nepal tourist visa on arrival at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport and several land borders, valid for stays of up to 90 days. Nepal’s missions list the multiple-entry tourist visa at US$30 for 15 days, US$50 for 30 days and US$125 for 90 days, paid in US dollars, and your passport needs at least six months’ validity from your departure date. Trekking then adds its own layer: a national park or conservation area permit of about NPR 3,000, plus either a TIMS card (NPR 2,000 for most foreigners) or, in the Everest region, a local municipality fee. Since April 2023 Nepal’s Tourism Board has required foreign trekkers to use a licensed guide on most routes.
Nepal is the trip many of us promise ourselves. The paperwork is lighter than the packing list, and once you see how it fits together you can budget the whole thing on one page.
Quick facts
- Visa: on arrival for Singaporeans, or apply beforehand through a Nepal mission.
- Fees: US$30 (15 days), US$50 (30 days), US$125 (90 days), multiple entry.
- Passport: at least six months’ validity from departure from Nepal.
- Annual cap: no more than 150 days in a calendar year.
- Trekking permits: about NPR 3,000 per park or conservation area, plus TIMS or a local fee.
- Guide: a licensed guide is required for foreign trekkers on most routes.
The tourist visa: fees and how to get it
| Visa | Fee (US$) | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| 15 days, multiple entry | 30 | Kathmandu Valley and a short trek |
| 30 days, multiple entry | 50 | Most classic treks such as Everest Base Camp or the Annapurna Circuit |
| 90 days, multiple entry | 125 | Long or back-to-back treks |
| Extension | 45 for the first 15 days, then 3 per extra day | Done at the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu or the Pokhara office |
Fees are as published by Nepal’s embassies as of October 2026; confirm before you fly, as Nepal reviews them from time to time. Late extensions draw a fine of US$5 a day.
Visa on arrival, step by step
- Fill in the online tourist visa form on Nepal’s immigration website before you fly; it produces a barcoded receipt valid for 15 days. Kiosks at the airport do the same if you have not.
- Pay the fee at the bank or fee counter in the arrivals hall and keep the receipt. Bring clean US dollar notes; MFA warns card payment is not reliable.
- Present the form, receipt and passport at the immigration desk.
Trekking permits, region by region
| Region | Permits needed | Reported fee for foreigners |
|---|---|---|
| Everest (Khumbu) | Sagarmatha National Park permit plus Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality fee | NPR 3,000 plus NPR 2,000 to 3,000 |
| Annapurna | Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) plus TIMS card | NPR 3,000 plus NPR 2,000 |
| Langtang | Langtang National Park permit plus TIMS card | NPR 3,000 plus NPR 2,000 |
| Restricted areas (e.g. Manaslu, Upper Mustang) | Special restricted-area permit via a registered agency, plus others | Charged in US dollars, varying by area and season |
The TIMS fee of NPR 2,000 for non-SAARC trekkers comes from the Nepal Tourism Board’s 2023 revision; park and municipality fees are as reported by trekking guides in 2026. In the Khumbu, the local municipality fee replaces TIMS. Park permits are sold at park entrances and at the tourist service centre in Kathmandu; TIMS is issued in Kathmandu and Pokhara or through a registered agency.
The licensed guide rule
From 1 April 2023, the Nepal Tourism Board required trekkers to engage a licensed trekking guide, ending most solo independent trekking. Enforcement is reported to be strictest in the Annapurna region, and restricted areas need a registered agency in any case. MFA’s own advice is blunt: never trek alone, use a reputable agency and stay on established routes.
A worked example: Everest Base Camp in a month
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| 30-day tourist visa | US$50 |
| Sagarmatha National Park permit | NPR 3,000 |
| Khumbu Pasang Lhamu municipality fee | NPR 2,000 to 3,000 |
| Paperwork subtotal | US$50 plus NPR 5,000 to 6,000 |
| Licensed guide, flights to Lukla, lodges, food | Quoted by agencies; the largest part of the bill |
For the Annapurna Circuit the paperwork is similar: US$50 for the visa, plus NPR 3,000 for ACAP and NPR 2,000 for TIMS, so NPR 5,000 in permits. The permits are the small line; the guide, transport and lodging are where to compare quotes carefully.
Before you go
- Buy comprehensive travel insurance and check it covers trekking at your planned altitude and helicopter evacuation.
- eRegister with MFA so the embassy can reach you.
- Watch the season: on 27 August 2026 MFA advised Singaporeans to avoid flood-affected areas including Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha and Chitwan.
- Carry US dollars in clean, unmarked notes for the visa counter.
The WahLiao Verdict
Take the 30-day visa for any classic trek; it gives you weather days without paying for 90. Fill in the online visa form before you fly, carry crisp US dollars, and book through a registered agency that bundles the guide and permits, then check its quote line by line against the fees here. Spend the savings on proper insurance. In the mountains, that is the purchase that counts.
Questions people ask
Do Singaporeans need to apply for a Nepal visa in advance?
No. Visa on arrival is available, though filling in the online form beforehand saves queueing at the kiosks.
Can I trek in Nepal without a guide?
On most popular routes, no. Rules introduced in 2023 require a licensed guide, and MFA advises never trekking alone.
Do I need a TIMS card for Everest Base Camp?
In the Khumbu, the local municipality entry fee generally takes the place of TIMS, alongside the Sagarmatha National Park permit. Confirm with your agency.
Can I pay the visa fee by card?
Do not rely on it. MFA says card payment is not a reliable option; bring US dollars, though there are money-changing and ATM services at the airport.
Sources: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Singapore, Nepal travel page: visa on arrival, passport validity, trekking advice; Embassy of Nepal, tourist visa and extension fees; The Himalayan Times, Nepal Tourism Board guide rule and TIMS fees; Follow Alice, 2026 park and municipality permit fees. The Escape explains; it does not advise.
Read next: Travel Insurance in Singapore: What It Covers and What It Doesn’t · Travel Vaccinations in Singapore: Where to Get Them and What They Cost · Back to The Escape
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